We are thinking of visiting Mount Titlis from Lucerne to Engelberg via the Zentralbahn railway. I have read the train goes through a tunnel at Grafenort to Engelberg. Is this true? How long is the the tunnel? How long is the train in the tunnel? My wife is extremely claustrophobic and does not do well in tunnels. Are there any other ways to get from Lucerne to Engelberg without tunnels?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17559 posts
You can see that tunnel and others on this map of the Swiss rail system. The tunnels are shown in dashed lines.
You are asking about the one between Hergiswil and Engelberg. You can see it on the map, near the red number 12 (indicating scenic route 12 on the list to the right). It is the red dashed line, not the black dotted one which indicates a cablecar or other lift. It doesn’t look very long; at least compared to long deep tunnels like the Gotthard and Lôtschberg Basistunnel. Probably under 10 minutes. The travel time between Greafenort and Engelberg is 15 minutes, and from the map of the route details on SBB the tunnel ( assuming it is the straight section in the middle) appears to be about 1/3 of the total distance.
But if she has severe claustrophobia, will she be OK in the enclosed cablecar dangling high above the ground? You must ride this to reach the summit for the views.
https://www.titlis.ch/en/activities/titlis-rotair
If that appears to be a bit daunting for her ( as it is for me), you might re-consider your choice of Titlis for the views. Rigi has beautiful views of the lake with mountain peaks beyond, and you reach the summit by train from the lakeshore at Vitznau, with nary a tunnel involved.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33991 posts
I'll be back shortly with a link to pics of the tunnel
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33991 posts
In this video https://youtu.be/fU7pc6HSoHU?si=jK_8jgJYUbkbeTEL
you can get an idea of the experience, perhaps share it with your wife, as the filmmaker leans out of the window for the journey - accounting for the wind noise on the mic
at 4:55 into the video leaving Luzern is a tunnel for 49 seconds
at 17:40 is the tunnel you ask about until 18:38, just 58 seconds.
I hope that helps you both decide if she can cope with it. Very scenic if you can, as you see in the video.
Switzerland is a land of tunnels because of the mountains, both on trains and in cars, but the Swiss gnomes and dwarves are very careful and build most excellent tunnels.